Following the devastating 5-alarm, fatal fire on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 374 East 209th Street in the Norwood section of The Bronx which killed three people, injured 14 and displaced the entire building, NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has provided an update on the structural stability of the building as surviving residents wait to access whatever remains of their belongings.

 

As reported, the FDNY said on Wednesday that the initial explosion which blew out apartment doors, along with heavy fire which eventually spread across three floors of the non-fireproofed building, located between Decatur Avenue and Parkside Place, made rescue and extinguishing efforts more complex. A full vacate order has since been put in place, as reported.

As reported, due to floor collapses, the FDNY worked to shore up the building and make it safe for members to search for additional victims reported missing after the first deceased victim was located on Wednesday. On Friday afternoon, Aug. 7, the FDNY located the body of the second fatal victim within the debris and on Saturday, Aug. 8, the body of the third victim was recovered. Read more here.

 

Andrew Rudansky, DOB spokesperson, said that DOB forensic engineers were on scene Friday, Aug. 7, where they met with FDNY and representatives of the building’s owners. They said that in addition to the significant floor collapses, the fire had left portions of the building structurally unstable. They said a structural engineer and contractors hired by the building owners started installing temporary structural shoring inside the building on Friday morning to shore up the unstable parts.

374 East 209th Street, Norwood, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, three days after a fatal fire. Video by Síle Moloney

They said this work was necessary so that FDNY could continue recovery operations in additional areas of the building, and so that the contractors could begin clean-up operations. As reported, FDNY were back at the scene Saturday, when they recovered the remains of the third victim.

DOB officials said the owner’s engineer told the department on Friday that they were working on a plan so that some of the tenants in apartment lines C, D, and E could temporarily access the building to retrieve belongings. However, they said the owner’s engineer still needed to perform additional work in the building before it is safe enough to start this process.

DOB officials went on to say that once they finished installing the emergency shoring to make the building safe for entry, the building owner’s engineer can submit a request to DOB to partially rescind the Vacate Order, which will allow some of the tenants to temporarily return under the engineer’s supervision to retrieve their belongings.

They said tenants can coordinate this process with the property owner and their representatives, adding that DOB does not have an exact timeline for when the owner’s engineer and contractors will finish the emergency stabilization work, but on Friday, the owner’s engineer indicated that they were hoping to start retrieving the tenants’ belongings early on the week commencing, Aug. 10.

On Saturday, Norwood News spoke to two displaced residents, a couple, who said they were grateful to get out alive but are living with total uncertainty when it comes to their futures. Shrugging his shoulders, the man estimated to be around 35 and who declined to be identified, said of his future, “This is all I got,” referring to the clothes he was wearing and the phone he was carrying. Referring to the hotel he’s staying in, he said, “I don’t want to be there. I’d rather be at home.” Deflated, he added, “I don’t have a choice. I got to move forward. Just got to figure it out.” The man said he doesn’t have insurance.

 

He added that most of his immediate neighbors got out, except for one, who he believes may be the third body removed Saturday from the building. He said he knew him by a nickname [which Norwood News is not disclosing pending family notification] and added that he was a middle-aged man. “He was very nice,” he said.

A sniffer dog & FDNY officials enter 374 E 209th S., Norwood, Bronx, 8/5/26 as third body removed. Video by Norwood News

Describing the fire itself, the man said it was just him and his dog who were home when it broke out. “As soon as I knew it was a fire, me and my dog just got out,” he said, adding that he took the interior stairs because he didn’t think he would be able to manage his dog going down the fire escape. Asked if he saw flames as he exited, he said, “When I got to the second floor, Apartment 2A and 2B were on fire.” He added that there was a lot of smoke.

 

Asked if his other neighbors were ok physically, he said they were. Asked if there had been issues with gas in the building, he said he had smelled gas a few times in the building “a couple of months ago…a year ago” and that they called the FDNY about it and “they sent somebody” to check it out. “I guess it was fine,” he added.

 

His partner then said, “I just want to know how I can get assistance after Thursday [the day they have to leave the hotel they have been housed in temporarily by the Red Cross]. I have nowhere to go. I have no family.” She said all her belongings were inside the building still. Other residents are also anxious to enter the building to collect valuables, we were told. Norwood News has reached out to the FDNY to ask when they think access could be allowed and will share any updates we receive.

 

Also on Saturday morning, emergency services were reportedly called again to the site of the building for a report of a “member of service” [we don’t know from which agency yet] with an injured arm. Norwood News has asked EMS for more information and will share same upon receipt.

On Saturday and Sunday, St. Brendan’s Church in Norwood organized a clothing drive for those affected by the fire.

As reported, the following GoFundMe page, confirmed as valid by GoFundMe officials, is live for anyone who wishes to donate.

 

Sign up for a free smoke alarm here. Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips. “During a fire, always close the door behind you!” fire officials say. “It helps contain smoke and flames, giving you precious time to escape.”